Today, though, it is online shopping that poses the greater threat. So the promise of a tax on online tech giants in conjunction with the Future High Streets Fund suggests the government is more serious about its support this time around.

Perhaps most significant of all is that this budget is designed to give the majority of consumers more money in their pockets. And an increase in discretionary spend will be key as the shadow of Brexit looms large over the peaks period.

Given the chancellor has already indicated this budget may be entirely redundant if the UK ends up in a no-deal position, any jubilation for these measures should however be deferred until at least December 14 (widely accepted as the last practical date for a Brexit deal to be struck).

But in this era of uncertainty, any positive news should be welcomed. Let’s take the cheerfulness where we can.